Annual Report on Health Care for Children and Youth in the United States: Focus on Trends in Hospital Use and Quality
Articles of Interest: June 10, 2011
This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:
- Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
- Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
- Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
- Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
- Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
- Other research using AHRQ data or products.
Friedman B, Berdahl T, Simpson LA, McCormick MC, Owens PL, Andrews R, et al. Annual report on health care for children and youth in the United States: focus on trends in hospital use and quality. Acad Pediatr 2011 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print. First, fifth, and sixth authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, and second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2000-2007 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data, AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software, and Pediatric Quality Indicators (PDI), and cites relevant data files and reports on AHRQ's HCUP, MEPS, and Quality Indicators Web sites; cites AHRQ's National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR), 2009.] Select to access the abstract.
Age and Ageing
Hanlon JT, Sloane RJ, Pieper CF, et al. Association of adverse drug reactions with drug-drug and drug-disease interactions in frail older outpatients. Age Ageing 2011 Mar; 40(2):274-7. [Supported by grants R01 HS18721 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.
American Journal of Cardiology
Mathews R, Peterson ED, Chen AY, et al. In-hospital bleeding during ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction care: derivation and validation of a model from the ACTION Registry-GWTG. Am J Cardiol 2011 Apr 15; 107(8):1136-43. [Supported by grant U18 HS16964.] Select to access the abstract.
American Journal of Managed Care
Webb JR, Feinglass J. Makoui G, et al. Can electronic health records help improve patients' understanding of medications? Am J Manag Care 2010 Dec; 16(12):919-22. [Supported by grant 1 R18 HS17220-01 (also lists grant R21 CA132771, attributed to AHRQ).] Select to access the abstract.
American Journal of Orthopedics
Bang H, Chiu YL, Memtsoudis SG, Mandl LA, Gonzalez Della Valle A, Muslin AI, Marx RG, et al. Total hip and total knee arthroplasties: trends and disparities revisited. Am J Orthop2010 Sep; 39(9):e95-e102. [Supported by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grant RFA HS05-14 (to first, second, fourth, and seventh authors; uses 1996-2005 HCUP NIS data, citing Final 1999 NIS Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report 2002-2, 2002, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
Anesthesia and Analgesia
Martinez EA, Thompson DA, Errett NA, Kim GR, Bauer L, Lubomski LH, Gurses AP, et al. High stakes and high risk: a focused qualitative review of hazards during cardiac surgery. Anesth Analg2011 May; 112(5):1061-74. [Supported by grants K08 HS13904-02 (to first author) and K01 HS18762 (to seventh author).] Select to access the abstract.
Archives of Internal Medicine
Lipitz-Snyderman A, Needham DM, Colantuoni E, et al. The ability of intensive care units to maintain zero central line-associated bloodstream infections. Arch Intern Med 2011 May 9; 171(9):856-8. [Supported by grant 1 UC1 HS14246; other authors report receiving previous/additional AHRQ support.] Select to access the abstract.
Clinical and Translational Science
Selker HP, Ruthazer R, Terrin N, et al. Random treatment assignment using mathematical equipoise for comparative effectiveness trials. Clin Trans Sci 2011 May; 4(1):10-16. [Supported by grant R01 HS10280.] Select to access the abstract.
Critical Care Medicine
Sexton JB (entered in PubMed as Bryan Sexton J), Berenholtz SM, Goeschel CA, et al. Assessing and improving safety climate in a large cohort of intensive care units. Crit Care Med 2011 May; 39(5):934-9. [Supported by grant 1 UC1 HS14246; other authors report receiving previous/additional AHRQ support.] Select to access the abstract.
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
Pan D, Huey SJ Jr, Hernandez D. Culturally adapted versus standard exposure treatment for phobic Asian Americans: treatment efficacy, moderators, and predictors. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol 2011; Jan; 17(1):11-22. [Supported by grant P01 HS1087.] Select to access the abstract.
Blustein J, Weissman JS, Ryan AM, et al. Analysis raises questions on whether pay-for-performance in Medicaid can efficiently reduce racial and ethnic disparities. Health Aff2011 Jun; 30(6):1165-75. [Supported by Career Development Award grant 1 K01 HS18546-01A1 (to third author).] Select to access the abstract.
Arora S, Kalishman S, Dion D, et al. Partnering urban academic medical centers and rural primary care clinicians to provide complex chronic disease care. Health Aff2011 Jun; 30(6):1176-84. [Supported by grants 5 UC1 HS15135, 1 R24 HS16510, and 1 R18 HS18171,] Select to access the abstract.
International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics
Vistnes J, Selden T. Premium growth and its effect on employer-sponsored insurance. Int J Health Care Finance Econ 2011 Mar; 11(1):55-81. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; uses 2000-2005 MEPS-Insurance Component (MEPS-IC) data, citing AHRQ publication, List Sample Design of the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component, Methodology Report 6, 1999.] Select to access the abstract.
Kesselheim AS, Myers JA, Avorn J. Characteristics of clinical trials to support approval of orphan vs nonorphan drugs for cancer. JAMA 2011 Jun 8; 305(22):2320-6. [Supported by Career Development Award grant K08 HS18465-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.
Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
Warholak TL, Hines LE, Saverno KR, et al. Assessment tool for pharmacy drug-drug interaction software. J Am Pharm Assoc 2011 May-Jun; 51(3):418-24. [Supported by grant U18 HS17001-01.] Select to access the abstract.
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Abramson EL, Malhotra S, Fischer K, et al. Transitioning between electronic health records: effects on ambulatory prescribing safety. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Apr 14. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by grant R18 HS17029.] Select to access the abstract.
Dusetzina SB, Alexander GC. Drug vs class-specific black box warnings: does one bad drug spoil the bunch? J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):570-2. [Supported by grant R01 HS189960.] Select to access the abstract.
Bayliss Ea, Blatchford PJ, Newcomer SR, et al. The effect of incident cancer, depression and pulmonary disease exacerbations on type 2 diabetes control. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):575-81. [Supported by grants 1 R21 HS17627-01 and K08 HS15476; limited results were presented at a poster presentation at the AHRQ annual conference in September, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.
Trivedi RB, Nieuwsma JA, Williams JW. Examination of the utility of psychotherapy for patients with treatment resistant depression: a systematic review. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):643-50. [Supported by fellowship grant (possibly T32 HS00079-01) at Duke University Medical Center (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.
Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Gregory PC, Szanton SL, Xue QL, et al. Education predicts incidence of preclinical mobility disability in initially high-functioning older women. The Women's Health and Aging Study II. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2011 May; 66A(5):577-81. [Supported by grant K08 HS17956-01 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.
Mukamel DB, Harrington C, Spector WD, et al. Does state regulation of quality impose costs on nursing homes? Med Care 2011 Jun; 49(6):529-34. [Fourth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets.] Select to access the abstract.
New England Journal of Medicine
Arora S, Thornton K, Murata G, et al. Outcomes of treatment for hepatitis C virus infection by primary care providers. N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 9; 364(23):2199-207. [Supported by Health Information Technology grant UC1 HS15135 and Minority Research Infrastructures Support Program grant R24 HS16510.] Select to access the abstract.
Research in Gerontological Nursing
Tyler DA, Parker VA. Staff teamwork in long-term care facilities: the influence of management style, training, and feedback. Res GerontolNurs2011 Apr; 4(2):135-46. [Supported by grant 1 R01 HS12031 (Task Design, Motivation, and Nursing Home Care Quality).] Select to access the abstract.
Keren R. Hospital care for children in the United States: recent trends and challenges ahead. Acad Pediatr 2011 Jun 2. [Epub ahead of print. Comments on article by Friedman et al. (Acad Pediatr, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]
American Journal of Infection Control
O'Grady NP, Alexander M, Burns LA, et al. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections. Am J Infect Control 2011 May; 39(4 Suppl 1):S1-S34. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Berenholtz et al. (Crit Care Med, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.
BMJ Quality and Safety
Pronovost PJ. Navigating adaptive challenges in quality improvement. BMJ QualSaf2011 May 21. [Epub ahead of print. Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006, and BMJ, 2010).]
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology
Holloway KA. Combating inappropriate use of medicines. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2011 May; 4(3):335-48. [Cites: AHRQ publication, Reducing and Preventing Adverse Drug Events to Decrease Hospital Costs, 2000, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]
Lee BY, Brown ST, Bailey RR, et al. The benefits to all of ensuring equal and timely access to influenza vaccines in poor communities. Health Aff2011 Jun; 30(6):1141-50. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Schneider et al. (JAMA, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.
Kennedy A, LaVail K, Nowak G, et al. Confidence about vaccines in the United States: understanding parents' perceptions. Health Aff2011 Jun; 30(6):1151-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Zyzanski et al. (J Fam Pract, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.
Hospitals & Health Networks
Weinstock M. Driving out errors, with Mom in mind. Hosp Health Netw 2011 Apr; 85(4):46-9. [Notes that according to AHRQ, "more than two million Americans suffer from VTE each year, and more than half of them develop the condition in the hospital or 30 days after discharge."] Select to access the abstract.
Bull MT, Sala-Diakanda SN. Averting healthcare network catastrophe. Indust Engin 2011 May; 43(5):32-7. [Discusses capabilities of AHRQ's Hospital Surge Model, as published on AHRQ's Hospital Surge Model Web site.]
Zilberberg MD. The clinical research enterprise: time to change course? JAMA 2011 Feb 9; 305(6):604-5. [Notes that AHRQ is one of the three largest stakeholders in the US that "use a substantial proportion of clinical research output for making decisions and setting policy" and that its focus is "on effectiveness and efficiency of interventions in the real-world setting.]
Gladwin MT, Kato GJ, Weiner D, et al. Nitric oxide for inhalation in the acute treatment of sickle cell pain crisis: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2011 Mar 2; 305(9):893-902. [Cites AHRQ publication, Sickle Cell Disease Patients in US Hospitals, HCUP Statistical Brief 21, 2004, as a source for data on children's hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crisis.] Select to access the abstract.
Bauer KA. Long-term management of venous thromboembolism: a 61-year-old woman with unprovoked venous thromboembolism. JAMA 2011 Apr 6; 305(13):1336-45. [Notes AHRQ's ranking of "the appropriate use of thromboprophylaxis as a major patient safety strategy for hospitals" in light of its efficacy in preventing venous thromboembolism.] Select to access the abstract.
Schiff GD. Medical error: a 60-year-old man with delayed care for a renal mass. JAMA 2011 May 11; 305(18):1890-8. [Cites AHRQ publication, Becoming a High Reliability Organization: Operational Advice for Hospital Leaders, 2008; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Clancy (Am J Med Qual, 2007) and Battles et al. (Health Serv Res, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.
McCannon J, Berwick DM. A new frontier in patient safety. JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305(21):2221-2. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Berenholtz et al. (lnfect Control Hosp Epidemiol, 2011), and Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality for the National Quality Strategy publication, About the National Quality Strategy, as published on AHRQ Web site.]
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Sorokin R. The crucible of physician performance reports. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):573. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Hofer et al. (JAMA, 1999).]
Baggett TP, Singer DE, Rao SR, et al. Food insufficiency and health services utilization in a national sample of homeless adults. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):627-34. [Cites MEPSnet QueryTools on AHRQ's MEPS Web site as source for data on hospitalization and emergency department utilization rates.] Select to access the abstract.
Press VG, Arora VM, Shah LM, et al. Misuse of respiratory inhalers in hospitalized patients with asthma or COPD. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):635-42. [Second and last authors (Krishnan JA) report receiving other AHRQ funding support from grants R03 HS18278 and HS16967, respectively.] Select to access the abstract.
Moskowitz D, Bodenheimer T. Moving from evidence-based medicine to evidence-based health. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Jun; 26(6):658-60. [Cites AHRQ publication, Patient Self-Management Support Programs: An Evaluation, 2007, and AHRQ-funded article by Landon et al. (Health Aff, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.
Managed Care Executive
Edlin M. Drill deeper to uncover variation across geographic areas: provider communities lack local best practices. Manag Care Exec 2011 Mar; 21(3):26-7. [Quotes remarks by Ernest Moy, medical officer with AHRQ's Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.]
Mor V. Cost of nursing home regulation: building a research agenda. Med Care 2011 Jun; 49(6):535-7. [Comments on article by Mukamel et al. (Med Care, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded-Authored Articles above and cites other AHRQ-funded/authored articles.]
Couralet M, Guerin S, Le Vaillant M, et al. Constructing a composite quality score for the care of acute myocardial infarction patients at discharge: impact on hospital ranking. Med Care 2011 Jun; 49(6):569-76. [Notes the use of composite scores by AHRQ and other organizations and AHRQ's use of the equal weight and all-or-none methods for computing composite scores; cites the AHRQ Web site.]
Select to access the abstract.
New England Journal of Medicine
Sequist TD. Ensuring equal access to specialty care. N Engl J Med 2011 Jun 9; 364(23):2258-9. [Comments on article by Arora et al. (N Engl J Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]
Respiratory Therapeutics Week
Pneumonia: ICUs in Michigan sustain zero bloodstream infections for up to 2 years. Respir Ther Wk 2011 May 23:1347. [Discusses the AHRQ-funded Comprehensive-Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and Keystone Project and summarizes findings from associated article by Lipitz-Snyderman et al. (Arch Intern Med, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles; quotes remarks by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy.]
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles
Annals of Internal Medicine
Laine C, Taichman DB, Mulrow C. Trustworthy clinical guidelines. Ann Intern Med, 2011 Jun 7; 154(11):774-5. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored article by Barton et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007) on interpreting updated USPSTF recommendation statements and notes the USPSTF's establishment of a process for public comment on proposed recommendations following release of updated breast cancer screening recommendations.]
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Bates CK, Carroll N, Potter J. The challenging pelvic examination. Ann Intern Med, 2011 Jun; 26(6):651-7. [Cites USPSTF recommendation statement topic pages Screening for Cervical Cancer and Screening for Ovarian Cancer on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
Women & Health
Allahverdipour H, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Emami A. Breast cancer risk perception, benefits of a barriers to mammography adherence among a group of Iranian women. Women Health 2011 May; 51(3):204-19. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored update of the evidence on breast cancer screening by Humphrey et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.
Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses
Nicholson O, DiCandilo F, Kublin J, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of the MRKAd5 gag HIV type 1 vaccine in a worldwide Phase 1 study of healthy adults. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2011 May; 27(5):557-67. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Antiretroviral (ARV) Drug Resistance in the Developing World, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.
Annals of Internal Medicine
Bannuru RR, Dvorak T, Obadan N, et al. Comparative evaluation of radiation treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer: an updated systematic review. Ann Intern Med, 2011 Jun 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported by contract 290-2007-10055-1 to the Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) and grant T32 HS000060 (to first author); updates 2008 review by Wilt et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008) and is based on AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Evaluation of Radiation Treatments for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: An Update, 2010, performed by the Tufts EPC under the same contract as this review; uses AHRQ publication, Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.
Keating NL, Landrum MB, Lamont EB, et al. Quality of care for older patients with cancer in the Veterans Health Administration versus the private sector. Ann Intern Med, 2011 Jun 7; 154(11):727-36. [Cites AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness of Therapies for Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer, 2008, performed by the Minnesota EPC under contract 290-02-0009.]
Select to access the abstract.
Tipton K, Launders JH, Inamdar R, et al. Stereotactic body radiation therapy: scope of the literature. Ann Intern Med, 2011 Jun 7; 154(11):737-45. [Supported by contract 290-02-0019 and performed by the ECRI EPC, based on AHRQ technical brief, Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, 2011.] Select to access the abstract.
Kozhimannil KB, Soumerai SB, Huskamp HA. Evidence for postpartum depression screening: the author's reply. Health Aff2011 Jun; 30(6):1217. [Cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Perinatal Depression: Prevalence, Screening Accuracy, and Screening Outcomes, 2005, performed by the RTI-University of North Carolina EPC.]
Coker TR, Shekelle PG, Takata GS. Antibiotics and acute otitis media in children: in reply. JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305(21):997-8. [Replies to letter commenting on article by Coker et al. (JAMA, 2010), which was supported by contract 290-2007-10056 to the Southern California EPC; cites AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Management of Acute Otitis Media: Update, 2010 (as performed by the Southern California EPC). Also refer to article by Trivedi and Grebla (Med Care, 2011) cited in National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles.]
National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles
Health Policy Brief (Health Affairs/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Bielaszka-DuVernay C. Improving quality and safety: despite some progress, the Nation still faces an urgent need to build a less error-prone system that delivers better care. Health Policy Brief 2011 Apr 15. Online. [Cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2010; discusses article by Pronovost et al. (Health Aff, 2011) on the AHRQ-funded Keystone Project and the AHRQ-funded CUSP.]
Trivedi AN, Grebla RC. Quality and equity of care in the Veterans Affairs health-care system and in Medicare Advantage health plans. Med Care 2011 Jun; 49(6):560-8. [Cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2009; cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Chaudhry et al., (Ann Intern Med, 2006) on impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care, performed by the Southern California EPC.] Select to access the abstract.
McKinney M. Rallying for health: AHRQ data tool nearly falls under budget ax until advocates say it's too useful. Mod Healthc 2011 Jun 6; 41(23):10. [Discusses AHRQ's State Snapshots and notes that data for the tool is taken from AHRQ's NHQR and NHDR; quotes remarks by AHRQ Director Carolyn Clancy and medical officer Ernest Moy. Also refer to article by Friedman et al. (Acad Pediatr, 2011) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.]
Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products
Annals of Family Medicine
Becker WC, Starrels JL, Heo M, et al. Racial differences in primary care opioid risk reduction strategies. Ann Fam Med 2011 May-Jun; 9(3):219-25. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures methods (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored articles by Basu (J Health Soc Policy, 2001) and Basu and Clancy (Health Serv Res, 2001.] Select to access the abstract.
Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
Davis KL, Bell TJ, Miller JM, et al. Hospital costs, length of stay and mortality associated with childhood, adolescent and young adult meningococcal disease in the U.S. Appl Health Econ Health Policy 2011 May 1; 9(3):197-207. [Uses 2006 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data.] Select to access the abstract.
Sikirica V, Bapat B, Candrilli SD, et al. The inpatient burden of abdominal and gynecological adhesiolysis in the US. BMC Surg 2011 Jun 9; 11:13. [Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data.]
Select to access the abstract.
Shah SV, Gage BF. Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2011 Jun 7; 123(22):2562-70. [Uses HCUP data to estimate costs of adverse events associated with major or minor hemorrhages; cites HCUPnet Web site and AHRQ publication, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention of Stroke: Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) Final Report—Phase 1, 2000.] Select to access the abstract.
Health Services Research
Farley DO, Elliott MN, Haviland AM, et al. Understanding variations in Medicare Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems scores: California as an example. Health Serv Res 2011 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print. Uses AHRQ's Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey data for 2008, citing AHRQ publication Instructions for Analyzing CAHPS Data, as published on AHRQ's CAHPS® Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
Bustamante AV, Chen J. Health expenditure dynamics and years of U.S. residence: analyzing spending disparities among Latinos by citizenship/nativity status. Health Serv Res 2011 Jun 3. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2000-2007 MEPs data linked to the National Health Interview Survey; cites AHRQ publication, The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures, Research in Action, 2006.] Select to access the abstract.
Cram P, Lu X, Kaboli PJ, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of Medicare patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty,1991-2008. JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305(21):1560-7. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.
Chang CH, Stukel TA, Flood AB, et al. Primary care physician workforce and Medicare beneficiaries' health outcomes. JAMA 2011 Jun 1; 305(21):2096-105. [Uses AHRQ's definition of ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC) hospitalizations from AHRQ publication, Using Administrative Data to Monitor Access, Identify Disparities, and Assess Performance of the Safety Net, 2003, as published on AHRQ's Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
Journal of Orthopedics and Sports Physical Therapy
Chevan J, Riddle DL. Factors associated with care seeking from physicians, physical therapists, or chiropractors by persons with spinal pain: a population-based study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011 Jun 7. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2001-2003 data from panels of respondents to the MEPS Household Component survey integrated with data from the MEPS Medicare Provider Component; cites personal communication with AHRQ staff regarding criteria for producing stable subject estimates; cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults: Assessment and Treatment (in Am Fam Physician, 1995), AHRQ's MEPS Web site, and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey: Survey Questionnaires, on AHRQ's MEPs Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
Smith MW, Lemke S, Schaefer J. Substance use disorders and health care costs among Veterans Affairs nursing home residents. Med Care 2011 Jun; 49(6):538-44. [Uses AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software, on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.
New England Journal of Medicine
Finks JF, Osborne NH, Birkmeyer JD. Trends in hospital volume and operative mortality for high-risk surgery. N EnglJ Med 2011 Jun 9; 364(23):2128-37. [Uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Kirby, Taliaferro, and Zuvekas (Med Care, 2006). Also refer to articles by Bang et al. (Am J Orthop, 2010) and Vistnes and Selden (Int J Health Care Finance Econ, 2011, cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.